by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Now that the Geno Smith era officially began Thursday gainst the New England Patriots, former New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde underscored a pair of blessings "in disguise'' after news that Mark Sanchez needs surgery to repair a dislocated throwing shoulder.

Testaverde empathized with a "tough setback'' for Sanchez, but the former Jets quarterback noted how Sanchez's confidence can benefit from time away from increasingly negative news media and fan scrutiny.

"It's a tough setback for Mark, especially being a starting quarterback and there was a competition and you're not able to perform and you basically lose your starting position because of injury -- it's tough,'' Testaverde told USA TODAY Sports before Thursday night's Jets game against the New England Patriots.

"But at the end of the day for him, it might be a blessing in disguise. It doesn't seem like it at this moment, but now Mark can sit back and not listen to all the media."

Testaverde added: "And maybe for the team, as well, it's a blessing in disguise, because they don't have to listen to all the controversy about who should be the starting quarterback.

"Now all is quiet on that front. And they can just focus on football and not worry about all the attention being focused on the quarterback spot.''

Sanchez injured his shoulder after Ryan inserted him to play behind scrubs late in a costly Week 3 preseason overtime win against the New York Giants.

Though Sanchez said Thursday he will try to rehab his dislocated right shoulder, a person close to him told USA TODAY Sports that Sanchez eventually will need surgery on the shoulder, and it's likely to land him on injured reserve and end his season and Jets career.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Jets had not addressed Sanchez's diagnosis or treatment.

Sanchez was examined Wednesday by orthopedist James Andrews, who laid out the options and told Sanchez surgery was the best bet to get healthy, the person said.

Testaverde worked with Smith as a part-time instructor, assisting IMG Academy quarterback guru Chris Weinke in Bradenton, Fla., this spring. He said he was not surprised by the poise Smith showed late in the Jets' improbable 18-17 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Smith threw for 256 yards and a touchdown, overcoming an interception and fumble in leading two fourth-quarter drives to field goals.

The unlikely win came courtesy of Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David's personal foul. He shoved Smith, who was clearly a step out of bounds as he scrambled to the Tampa Bay 45-yard line. The penalty set up Nick Folk's game-winning field goal with two seconds left.

"Geno adds something special to the team,'' Testaverde said. "To his credit, he got off to a good start. Whenever you draft a quarterback, you never know how they're going to react to playing for the first time.

"Are they going to have that deer-in-the-headlights look? Or are they going to perform like an NFL player out there? He's handled everything on the field and off that goes along with being a top pick for an organization that always seems to be in the media spotlight.''

Testaverde, 49, who is helping coach a high school team near his Tampa home, also worked this spring with Tim Tebow, helping the fellow Heisman Trophy winner correct some mechanical flaws.

Testaverde said he hasn't heard from Tebow in a couple of months and thinks he's "somewhere working hard'' in a bid to get another NFL opportunity.

Testaverde hopes a second chance will come from the Patriots, because Tebow could continue working under the tutelage of quarterback Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

But failing that, Testaverde agrees with quarterback instructor Steve Clarkson, who told USA TODAY Sports after Tebow's release two weeks ago that Tebow's best option might be playing against live competition in the Canadian Football League. That might be his best path back to the NFL, Testaverde said.